ERT is back! Opens with protest and pandemonium (photos + videos)

Author: newsroom  | Published: June 12, 2015

ERT, the public broadcaster, is back on after two years! But is it really ERT – or SYRIZA TV? Time will tell

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited the newly reopened State Radio and Television Network (ERT) on Thursday evening, immediately following his return from Brussels saying he wanted to participate in a “celebration of democracy”.

“ERT was not reopened by the government, it was reopened with the struggles of its employees,” Tsipras told journalists. “Today we must all be happy and look towards the future with optimism,” he added, noting that fair struggles eventually vindicated.

A parade of ministers arrived at ERT with Speaker of the House Zoe Konstantopoulou in a position of honor as the first guest on the revived state broadcasters current affiars show.

Like Tsipras, State Minister Nikos Pappas headed to the concert as soon as he arrived from Brussels.

Finance Minister Yannis Varoufakis was accompanied by his wife, artist Danae Stratou. He said it was “a day of joy”. Asked about negotiations, he sufficed to tell Proto Thema that the situation is “difficult.”

Attica Regional Governor Rena Dourou and SYRIZA Deputy Rachel Makri were also among those present at the ERT concert.

The celebration began with a peaceful but symbolic protest rally. ERT workers hoped in this way to send the message that the battle is not over.

A concert began at 8 p.m. featuring the Symphonic Orchestra and ERT Choir who played the national anthem. Composers and performers such as Thanos Mikroutsikos, George Andreou, Eleni Tsaligopoulou and Nikos Ziogalas amongst others took part in the event.

One of the highlights was a performance of the song “Mikri Patrida” (Little Country) for the 19 deceased ERT employees with Dionysis Tsaknis, the new head of the public broadcaster, taking the microphone himself. “Be our voice, our editors and news,” he encouraged those present, pledging that the state network will remain an independent distributor of news.

ERT shut down in June 2013 after the New Democracy (ND) government called it a “haven of waste”. 2,600 staff was made redundant. In the first show of ERT, presenter Nikos Aggelidis said: “It’s a special day for all Greeks, for those who love Greece and for those who love freedom of information.”